I'm stepping up on my spooky reads for the next weeks and diving into one that looks like it could be tons of fun for the beginning readers out there. This is the fifth book in a series, and nope, I haven't read the other books, yet. The cover is giving off monster vibes but in a family and friendship kind of way. I'm thinking there might be a little mystery involved as well.
But let's just take a look and find out!
GHOULIA AND THE
SUNKEN SECRET
Mortina #5
by Barbara Cantini
Amulet Books
Children's Fantasy
66 pages
ages 6 to 8
Everyone’s favorite little zombie girl is back in the fifth book of this ghoulishly good Tim Burton–inspired early chapter book
Halloween is approaching which means it’s time for the annual parade! Between carving pumpkins and enjoying fresh pumpkin juice, Ghoulia and her friends realize they need to find the perfect costume.
While rummaging through the attic for hats, masks, and capes, they stumble upon an old memory box. Inside are trinkets, old photographs, and a faded postcard—from Ghoulia’s parents! They embarked on a voyage long ago but never returned from their trip. Where could they have possibly ended up?
It’s time to put on some sleuthing gear; finding out will require detective skills and a lot of imagination! With the help of her faithful dog Tragedy, cousin Dilbert, and all her friends, Ghoulia sets on a journey to crack open the titanic mystery of her parents’ whereabouts . . . before the trail gets too cold!
Ghoulia and friends return in the fifth book of this fun, full-color chapter book series, starring everyone’s favorite, not-so-scary zombie.
Halloween is approaching which means it’s time for the annual parade! Between carving pumpkins and enjoying fresh pumpkin juice, Ghoulia and her friends realize they need to find the perfect costume.
While rummaging through the attic for hats, masks, and capes, they stumble upon an old memory box. Inside are trinkets, old photographs, and a faded postcard—from Ghoulia’s parents! They embarked on a voyage long ago but never returned from their trip. Where could they have possibly ended up?
It’s time to put on some sleuthing gear; finding out will require detective skills and a lot of imagination! With the help of her faithful dog Tragedy, cousin Dilbert, and all her friends, Ghoulia sets on a journey to crack open the titanic mystery of her parents’ whereabouts . . . before the trail gets too cold!
Ghoulia and friends return in the fifth book of this fun, full-color chapter book series, starring everyone’s favorite, not-so-scary zombie.
MY TIDBITS
With aspects reminiscent of The Addams Family, this adventure draws in with a fun sense of creepy and friendship, which looks beyond the surface.
Ghoulia is excited about the upcoming Halloween parade, since it's the one time each year that she and her family can join the rest of the residents of the town and not be spotted as monsters. While getting ready for the big day, she stumbles across a memory box. Inside, there are photos and letters from her parents, who had disappeared years ago. One postcard has a photo of the ship they were last seen on, and Ghoulia realizes that she might be able to find them with this new clue. With her two human friends, she heads to the museum to see which ship it was and is very surprised to discover that it was the Titanic. Ghoulia is sure that her now zombie parents are lost on the bottom of the ocean and has to think of a way to find them and bring them home.
Ghoulia is a zombie to want to be friends with, but then, her entire family is kind, quirky, and eventful. There's never a dull moment, and they help each other out where they can. Her two friends are also golden and offer a little solid grounding in her otherwise crazy world. It's easy to sympathize with her as she misses her parents and readers will hope she finds a way to find them, too. While this emotional end makes everyone likeable, it's the oddities which really make every moment shine. From strange aunts and uncles to visiting dogs and bats with special talents, it's impossible to guess what everyone is up to, and each moment delights.
The pages are covered with detailed and bright illustrations, giving something to discover with every glance. There are even little phrases scribbled on the illustrations to point out certain items, which are curious and put a smile on the face. The text is clearly printed either around the illustrations or in them. These are just right for those readers, who are sure of their words but need extra practice before diving into longer tales. It does make a nice read-aloud, but this is the type of book, which will have readers eager to get to the point that they can pick it up on their own. At the end of the book, there are directions on how reader scan create their own memory boxes, which adds a nice touch.
Each scene offers positive moments, and even when the monsterly aspects come out, it is always mixed with humor and fun. It will be fun to see what other adventures lie in store for this bunch.
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